Whistle at first horn

[Freddy]

Originally Posted by Rich

One of our big dogs . . .

Something that has made it a lot easier to "bring 'em otta the huddles" we discovered from video evidence of last year's games...
In the past, when a timeout was granted, most officials inevitably reported it to the table right away and got the clock started way before the players had any realistic opportunity to even make it over toward their bench areas. Then, when the first horn went off, they barely got the deserved time from the timeout requested. Yep, we had a hard time getting them to come out and resume play.
This year, having had it on the agenda of a rules meeting, some in our area started taking our time with that report to the table. That is, timeout is requested, then granted, then the reporting official backs out to the midcourt area to signal to partners and the other coach what kind of timeout was requested, then after players are observed crossing or making their way to the benches, the report is given to the table and the point and verbal "Start the Clock" is issued to the timekeeper.
Now, that sounded a lot more elongated than it really is in real life, but the result we're enjoying is this: when they get full value out of the timeout requested, they're very easy to bring out of the huddles to resume play.
Perhaps this is how others in other areas have been doing it all along, and we were behind the curve.
But this is working well for us the first few games of the new season and I thought it might be worth mentioning.
If not, disregard. If so, try it.
Arf...arf.